‘Gotham: Rise Of The Villains’ Episode 2 Red Band Trailer Has Lots Of Laughs

Gotham‘s second season started last night and, as promised, the show has really switched emphasis from the soft procedural it (mostly) was during Season 1 to a more serialized story about Gotham City’s slowly enlarging cast of colorful villains. Next week’s episode, “Rise of the Villains: Knock, Knock,” takes that further, with James Frain’s evil politician Theo Galavan assembling an A-team of psychopaths liberated from Arkham Asylum and turned loose on the city. For a closer look, Fox has released a new trailer, and you can watch it here. Of course, bear in mind it’s been given a tongue-in-cheek red band, though most of the violence is just offscreen. Be warned, nonetheless.

The take away is that Gotham really wants you to think that Jerome Valeska (Cameron Monaghan) is inevitably going to become this universe’s version of the Joker. And maybe he will — he’s certainly got the laugh down. But I’m partial to the fan theory that Jerome instead will end up as a gender-flipped Harley Quinn, and it’s Jim Gordon’s (Ben McKenzie) ex-fiancee Barbara Kean (Erin Richards) who will actually end up as a similarly gender-flipped Joker. Feel free to baselessly speculate in comments.

Last night’s Gotham season premiere is now available on Fox on Demand. “Rise of the Villains: Knock, Knock” airs at 8:00 PM Monday on Fox.